Combined draw-head and air coupling.



L. & J. LE COMPTE.

COMBINED DRAW HEAD AND AIR COUPLING.

Patented May 25, 1915.

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L. & 1. LE COMPTE.

COMBINED DRAW HEAD AND AIR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILEDIUNE4,1909.

T E NORRIS PETERS L. & I. LE COMPTE.

COMBINED DRAW HEAD AND AIR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4. I909. 1 1M320 Patented May 25, 1915.

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LOUIS LE COMPTE AND JOSEPH LE COIVIPTE, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO THE LE COMPTE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

COMBINED DRAW-HEAD AND AIR COUPLING.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1%15.

Application filed June 4, 1909. Serial No. 500,219.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, LoUIs Ln COMPTE and Josnrrr LE CoMrrn, citizens of the United States, and residents of the city of Aurora, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Draw- Head and Air Couplings; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in combination draw head and air couplings adapted to couple automatically when brought together and simultaneously couple the air connections.

It is an object of this invention to provide a device of the class specified in which the draw heads are prevented from relative lateral movement to prevent uncoupling and prevent great stress being exerted on the knuckles but in which the drawheads are movable freely vertically.

It is further an object of this invention to provide pivotally mounted drawheads to which are secured the coupling knuckles and in which the knuckles can never become uncoupled even on the sharpest curves.

It is further an object of this invention to provide mechanism for automatically centralizing the draw heads on the radius bars but which are yieldable to permit the drawheads swinging.

It is further an object of this invention to provide pivotally supported valve casings on the drawheads and mechanism for wedging the same together to provide a tight connection when the drawheads are coupled.

It is further an object of this invention to provide mechanism for automatically opening the valves when the drawheads are coupled and mechanism for automatically closing the valves when the drawheads are uncoupled and holding the valves closed until the drawheads are again coupled.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a coupling that is adapted to couple with any type of M. G. B. coupler.

It is further an object of this invention to provide a device of the class described which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture and which is applicable to steam roads, interurban, street or elevated railroads.

The invention consists of the matters hereinafter described and more fully pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying our invention showing the drawheads in coupled relation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan View of the device. Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a draw head embodying our invention coupled with a drawhead of the M. C. B. type, the latter of which is shown in dotted lines. Fig. 5 is a central horizontal section. Fig. 6 is a central vertical section. Fig. 7 is a section 'on line 77 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a section on line 88 of Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail illustrating the means for limiting the swinging movement of one of the valve casings. Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 8. Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail of the centralizing means for the drawheads.

As shown in the drawings: AA indicate the draw bars, to each of which is integrally or otherwise rigidly connected a yoke a. Each drawhead comprises a casing B, having an integral lug 7), adapted to engage between the arms (4 of the yoke and are pivotally secured thereto by means of a pin 6 which is held from displacement by means of a cotter pin 6 or nut. As shown, the distance between the arms a is sufficiently greater than the thickness of the lugs I), to permit the required vertical movement of the draw heads and a spring 6 is secured on the pin 5 between the lower arm a and lug b, to centralize the heads, thereby adapting them to move either upwardly or downwardly against compression of the spring.

For centralizing the drawheads or normally holding the same in alinement with the draw bars to facilitate coupling, recesses are provided in a wall of each casing 13, and fitting therein are pins 79 which at their outer ends bear against the yoke and at their inner ends are each provided with a pushing spring 6 the opposite end of which bears against the wall of the casing.

Each casing B, as shown, is provided with a coupling knuckle B which, as shown in Fig. 4, is shaped on its inner side to couple with any type of M. C. B. coupler. Said knuckles are each provided with a notch Z),

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ing member in locking adapted to register with aperture in the opposite casing when the drawheads are in coupled relation. An aperture f Z), is also provided in each casing for purposes herein after set forth. A barb integral with the knuckle and easing firmly braces each knuckle and affords great .strength.

Means are provided for locking the knuckles or rigid draw hooks B to the casings B;

comprising a locking member C, having inwardly directed catches 00 adapted to be engaged by the rounded or cam face of the knuckles or draw hooks, so as to'be automatically adjusted outwardly tofipermit the knuckles entering the respective casing after which the catch 0, enters the aperture If, in the casing at .thebase of they'knuckle-and the catch 0 enters the aperture in'the casing and recess 52in the knuckle." The faces of the casings abutand prevent relativeswinging movement of the knuckles and therebyprevent allpossibility of the knuckles becoming detached:

Each locking member is provided'with a bolt 0 which engages in a passage--'in the top of the casing and a pushingspri-ngfi, is secured in a longitudinal slot in the'bolt" and bears against one end of the. slot -and a pin 0*, rigidly secured-t0 the Wall of the casing thereby normally holdingahe'lock position.

For the purpose of uncoupling the drawheads a lever D, is draw head by means of a pivoted pin" d and projects into the same at the base of the knuckle. Said lever is provided with, a cam or tooth-which engages in'a'cam slot in the adjacent bolt 0 (see Fig.- 7). Achain al or other connection is secured at one endto the lever D, and at its opposite endis-connected to an adjusting rod (Z Eachlever D extends through an aperture -6 and is:

provided with a projectingboss or stud (Z shown in Fig. 7. The catch portion 0 of the locking member G of the mating-draw head is adapted to enter said aperture 6 as shown in Fig. 5 and as herein'elsewhere'described.' and isthus 11113081131011 to'be engaged and operated or moved to-releasingposition'by the stud (Z on the adjacent lever D. Each lever D is thus adapted to operate the locking members 0 of both draw heads simultaneously so as to release orunlock the draw heads.

A valve casing or coupler shoe E; is pivoted by means of a suitable stud e, to-the bottom of each drawhead B, to have a lim- *ited swinging movement on its aXis laterally or transversely with respect-to the draw head, such pivoted coupler member or shoe being supported by the draw head and movable independently of the-drawhead connecting-or-locking mechanism-and is limited in its movement by means of a pine, secured to the wall of the drawhead B, which pivoted to eachcasing or engages in a suitable slot in the casing E, as

shown in Fig. .9. Each casing is apertured.

Gr, provided with apertures therethrough'to afford communication between the respective pipes FF F bers f f coupled and'wedge the same tightly together registering withthe axial passagesin-the packingmembers "ff "f in the othervalve casing." I I p A lever g, is secured to each valve stem- G,

which is engaged by a pin g on the valve casing of the-opposite drawhead when the drawheads "are being coupled; and rotates and passage-in the meml/Vedge members I l-H are secured-tothe drawheads adapted toengage the pivoted valve casings when-the drawheads are being to'forma tight joint between the valve cas ingsjin whichposition-theaxial passages in the packing members in one valve" casing are" the stem to adjust thepassages therein'to'; afford communication between the pipes- F F 'F and passa esin the packing;-

A-torslon-springgg is seated in a recess in each valve caslngra-nd is" connected'atone end to thestem G,'21Ild at its opposite'end to'the valve casing-adapted to automatically adjust the stem'to close the pipes when the drawheads' are uncoupledu The operation. is as follows: The draw-' headsare held" centralized adapting the heads to .be' automatically coupled withoutmanual adj ustment'of the same. When the drawheads are brought together'th'e-cam" faces of the knuckles successively engage-the catches 'c0 to release the catch topermit insertion of the knuckles into the casings and the springs 0 adjust the locking mem- 4 bers to engagethe knuckles and drawheads .115 j to rigidly secure the drawheads together. It is obvious that the union of the drawheadsis not a pivotal connection and therefore no I stresscanbe exerted on the knuckles or draw hooks. Also the drawheads are free to move upward or downward and'normally are 'cen-' tralized vertically by the springs Z2 As the drawheads are coupled the respective wedge member H or H each engages the inclined face of the pivoted valve casing attached to the opposite drawhead and the valve casings are therefore forced tightly together. .At the same time the pin 9 on one valve casing engages-the lever 9, attached to thevalve in the opposite valve casingand adjusts the valve stem to open the valve and afford com munication between the pipes in one car to the pipes in the adjacent car. The valves are held open as long as the cars are coupled. When uncoupling the levers D, are actuated releasing the locking members 0, from the knuckles permitting the retraction of the knuckles from the drawhead casings. Asthe drawheads are uncoupled the pins g are withdrawn from their lever g, permitting the torsion spring 9 for each valve to adjust the valve to close the train pipes and hold the same closed until the drawheads are again coupled.

In Fig. 4, a standard M. B. drawhead is shown in dotted lines in which the knuckle is adapted to engage the knuckle B and the catch 0 bears against the knuckle of the M. G. B. drawhead holding the same in coupled relation.

Inasmuch as the drawheads are pivoted to the draw bars and the knuckles are nonpivoted, said knuckles can never uncouple on any curve or under any circumstances eX- cept by first actuating the levers I).

Numerous details of construction may be varied, and we do not desire to limit this application for patent otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

We claim:

1. In a device of the class described the combination of a draw head, connecting mechanism adapted to connect said draw head in rigid relation to a similar draw head, a coupler shoe having a side opening and pivotally mounted upon and supported by and movable transversely on its axis with respect to the draw head independently of the draw head connecting mechanism, and adapted to be held in engagement with a similar coupler shoe of a mating draw head by said connecting mechanism, a boss mounted adjacent to the pivoted coupler shoe, said coupler shoe and boss being so constructed and arranged as to admit there between and engage the coupler shoe of a mating draw head, and a conduit in said side opening of the coupler shoe and movable with the latter into operative engagement with a similar conduit of a mating coupler shoe.

2. In a device of the class described the combination of a pair of draw heads, a coupler shoe pivotally supported by and movable on its aXis transversely with respect to each draw head, respectively, each of said coupler shoes having a side opening adapted to communicate with a similar side opening of a mating coupler shoe, a hose pipe supported by and movable with each coupler shoe, respectively, transversely with respect to the draw heads, and each forming a pas sage communicating with one of said side openings, a boss mounted adjacent to the pivoted coupler shoe of each draw head, respectively, said coupler shoe and boss of each draw head being so constructed and arranged as to admit therebetween and enage the coupler shoe of a mating draw head to hold the coupler shoes in position to present the side openings thereof in position to communicate with each other, and connecting mechanism mounted on each draw head, respectively, and movable independently of the coupler shoes, for connect ing said draw heads in rigid relation to each other.

3. In a device of the class described the combination of a pair of draw heads, a coupler shoe mounted on and movable transversely with respect to each draw head, a hose pipe supported by and movable with each coupler shoe transversely with respect to the draw heads and into and out of position to communicate with the hose pipe of an opposite coupler shoe, a boss mounted adjacent to the pivoted coupler shoe of each draw head, respectively, said coupler shoe and boss being so constructed and arranged as to admit therebetween and engage the coupler shoe of a mating draw head, valve mechanism on each coupler shoe, for opening and closing the passages formed by said pipes, means for automatically operating the valve mechanism, and locking mechanism mounted on each draw head, respectively, and movable independently of the coupler shoes into and out of locking engagement with the opposite draw head and adapted to connect the draw heads in rigid relation to each other.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of draw heads, a coupler shoe pivotally mounted on and movable transversely with respect to each draw head, a hose pipe supported by and movable with each coupler shoe transversely with respect to the draw heads, a passage in each coupler shoe adapted to communicate with the corresponding hose pipe in the same coupler shoe, a valve in each coupler shoe, a valve operating lever connected with each valve, a boss on each coupler shoe adapted to engage the valve operating lever of the opposite coupler shoe, and means for rigidly connecting the draw heads.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of draw heads, a coupler shoe pivotally mounted on and movable transversely with respect to each draw head, a hose pipe supported by and movable with each coupler shoe transversely with respect to the draw heads, a valve on each coupler shoe for opening and closing the passage formed by the hose pipe, a lever on each valve, movable into and out of engagement with a valve-operating member located on the opposite coupler shoe, a boss mounted adjacent to the pivoted coupler shoe of each draw head, respectively, said coupler shoe and boss being so constructed and arranged as to admit therebetween and engage the coupler shoe of a mating draw head, and connecting mechanism mounted on each draw head, respectively, and movable inde-' pendently of the coupler shoes into and out of coupling position.

6.. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of draw heads, a conpler shoe pivotally mounted on and movable transversely with respect to each draw head, a plurality of hose pipes supported by and movable with each coupler shoe, avalve in each couplershoe provided with. a plurality of passages each adapted to communicate with one of the hose pipes on the shoe on which the valve is located, a valve operating lever connected with each. valvexa'nd mov- V able into and out of engagement with a valve operating member on the other coupler V shoe, a boss on each draw head. adapted to engage the coupler shoe. of the opposite draw head, and means for rigidly connecting the LOUIS LE COMPTE.

Witnesses:

LAWRENCE REIBSTEIN, C. E. HANNAH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by'addressing the Gommissioner of ratents,

Washington, D. G.

JOSEPH LE COMPTE. 

